Ruth D. Grothendieck, 74

October 12, 2003

Described by her husband as both friendly and thoughtful, Ruth D. Grothendieck, 74, never missed the chance to send a friend or family member a greeting card. "She was very outgoing and helped everybody she could," said her husband, Ralph. "She never missed anyone's anniversary, wedding or birthday." The couple met in St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg in 1975, and married two years later--the second marriage for both, her husband said. A resident of Rolling Meadows for the last 18 years, Mrs. Grothendieck died of complications from cancer Thursday, Oct. 9, in Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights. Born in Chicago, Mrs. Grothendieck lived in Wisconsin, where her family spent several years farming when she was a young child. She grew up in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, attending St. John's Lutheran Church School and graduating from Schurz High School in the mid-1940s. After high school, she held a variety of jobs, including doing office work for a railroad company in Chicago. She retired in 1990 after a decade as an accountant for Schaumburg Township. In addition to her husband, other survivors include a daughter, Donna Lucido; a son, Kenneth Betten; four sisters; and four brothers. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Rd., Rolling Meadows. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Peter Lutheran Church, 208 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg.